Electroclinic effect in smectic-Band -Ephases of chiral molecules

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Abstract
Experimental results establishing for the first time the electroclinic effect in smectic-B and -E phases of chiral molecules are reported, which were obtained on a compound showing the phase sequence isotropic-SmA-SmB-SmE. The induced tilt angle is found to be proportional to the applied field strength in all the three smectic phases indicating a linear tilt-polarization coupling. The ratio between induced polarization and induced tilt angle, determined by simultaneous measurement of both quantities, is nearly temperature independent within a phase and increases at the transitions SmA to SmB and SmB to SmE.